The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation promotes the advancement and perpetuation of humanistic inquiry and artistic creativity by encouraging excellence in scholarship and in the performing arts, and by supporting research libraries and other institutions which transmit our cultural heritage.

The Foundation supports not-for-profit organizations engaged in activities of interest to the Foundation. Institutions located in the United States should have an IRS 501(c)3 designation; institutions outside of the United States can present other kinds of evidence of non-for-profit status after consultation with the Foundation. With the exception of the Venetian Research Program, the programs do not provide funds to individuals. In general, awards are made for single-year, and not multi-year, projects. See Overview of Programs.

The programs of the Foundation reflect the interests and patronage of its founders, Gladys Krieble Delmas and Jean Paul Delmas.